“You can touch it. It doesn’t hurt anymore obviously.” There was a simple smile on his face as if he would have allowed anyone to touch his body.
Lilah hesitated, but didn’t want to come across as a shy prude. It was just his side, just along the ribcage. There was absolutely nothing at all intimate about the gesture or their situation.
Kyler sucked in a breath once the dainty tips of her fingers collided with his skin, setting his whole body on fire. Lilah immediately apologized for having cold hands, but he couldn’t tell her that the temperature of her hands wasn’t the cause of the feelings suddenly running through him. Goosebumps soon ran up and down his arms.
When Lilah pulled away, she was stopped with Kyler’s free hand clasping over her wrist. His eyes opened, meeting hers, and that’s when she saw darkness in the normally bright blue. His glassy eyes appeared dazed, in another world.
“Lilah…” His voice was deep and raspy, sending chills all the way down to Lilah’s toes.
Gradually, Kyler allowed his fingers to release her wrist and skim up her arm, finding satisfaction at the goosebumps now appearing across her skin. The space between them closed with each passing second, as both leaned toward the other.
Kyler’s eyes clenched and he pulled his hand away when the unfamiliar laughter from downstairs made its way through his open doorway.
Whatever spell he had cast on Lilah faded as quickly as a flash of lightning across a darkened stormy sky. She bolted up from the bed, needing to put distance between Kyler and herself. She couldn’t believe that he was about to kiss her, or at least that’s what it seemed like. The moments between them had to mean something more and it made her crazy. She couldn’t let him kiss her again, not while he was with someone else, maybe not ever.
“I have to go,” Lilah managed, only realizing how breathless she sounded when the words finally came.
She could hear Kyler’s steps right behind her as she darted down the stairs like the most scared cat that ever existed.
When Kyler got to the foot of the stairs, he appeared genuinely shocked. For some reason all eyes fell to him as he stared at the young kid that he had never seen before. He recognized right away that it was Lilah’s brother, but that didn’t help with the confusion any.
“Ky! Put on a shirt. There’s a kid,” his sister pretended to scold.
Rover narrowed his eyes and broke from Kyler to his sister, who was clearly uncomfortable with the situation. He could definitely have fun at her expense if he so chose.
“So, this is Kyler,” Rover said in the most annoying and flirtatious voice he could muster up.
Lilah’s lips tightened and she glared at him to shut up. While her brother knew absolutely nothing about Kyler, other than the fact that he had text her, she was certain that he would make something up, just to embarrass her.
“Kyler, this is my little brother, Rover,” Lilah introduced. “We were headed to the park,” she said, beginning to ramble. “I wanted to drop the cookies off and I thought Rover might like to meet Max. We can’t stay any longer though.” She began trying to motion Rover to the door. “Antonio is waiting and–”
“Wait,” Rover exclaimed, not budging. “Shouldn’t you go help him put on a shirt?”
Though the adult in the room, Krista couldn’t help but choke on her sip of coffee at the comment.
Kyler didn’t think he had ever seen Lilah’s face as red as it was after that. He wanted so much for her to stay a little longer, even if it meant that her brother would be around as well, but everything was already beyond awkward as it was.
“When are you going to ask her out,” Krista questioned as soon as the door closed behind Lilah and her brother.
“Never.”
“Seriously? After last weekend and now this?”
Kyler sighed and shook his head. “She’s just being nice because she heard I got hurt.”
“Oh! Whatever! From what you told me about Lilah McCallister, I never expected that.”
“What do you mean?”
Krista laughed in disbelief. She didn’t know if Kyler wanted her to feed his ego, or if he was really that clueless. “You acted like she was a cross between Cerberus and Medusa, like she was the biggest, snottiest, brat that ever walked the halls of Raymere Grove High, like–”
“She was!”
“Well, the key word there is was. What I saw right now is an infatuated girl who turns to a puddle of mush when she’s around you.” Krista paused, scrutinizing her brother’s facial features. “And if I’m not mistaken, you’re not much better.”
Kyler began to make his way back up the stairs. He didn’t intend to spend his Saturday arguing with his sister about his relationships, or lack thereof. “You’re wrong. She’s my tutor until the end of the season, and–” His words stopped immediately with the cackling witch-like noise coming from his sister. There was no use with her.
He wouldn’t bother telling her that Lilah made herself clear last weekend, despite whatever almost happened in his bedroom. They weren’t suitable for each other. They were from two different and secretly imperfect worlds.
Chapter 28
The moment could not have worked out more perfectly in Sarah’s favor. She laughed on the inside at how ridiculous Lilah was. Everyone knew if you went to the bathroom at least one friend was obligated to attend with you.
“Girls, bathroom. Now,” Sarah insisted, rising from the lunch table.
Abby looked down at the steaming hot cheeseburger that Sarah had just told her needed to be trashed. She really didn’t want to leave it yet.
“Can you wait like five minutes,” Britt asked.
Sarah gasped in offense. “No!”
They both rolled their eyes but quickly rose from the table and were at Sarah’s heels headed toward the bathroom. They were confused when Sarah immediately began talking about Kyler as they entered the room.
Sarah glanced under the stalls. There were only two people. One had a pair of awful looking Converse while the other had shiny black heels with bright red bottoms. She twisted her lips just thinking about those stupid perfect shoes.
She gave Abby and Britt a wink and motioned with her hand to keep going. They weren’t entirely sure what game she was playing but knew not to question her motives.
“I’m sure our relationship will be a lot easier after this past Friday. I mean, it sucks that our season is almost over, but at least now Kyler and I can focus on each other, once his little tutoring sessions end,” Sarah went on, motioning for her friends to do the same.
“Uh…Yeah,” Britt stammered. “What’s up with that? I mean, especially that whole deal with her having his hoodie.”
“Oh, I’m sure they have a little something going on, nothing major of course,” Sarah began, pretending to dismiss the idea that Kyler could be seriously interested in Lilah.
“That doesn’t bother you,” Abby asked.
Sarah managed a giggle, now looking at herself in the mirror and touching up her eyeliner. She fell silent when one of the stalls opened. She knew Lilah wouldn’t be bold enough to come out, and as it turned out, it wasn’t Lilah. It was the hideous pair of Converse that, oddly enough, belonged to someone on her squad. She gave Emory a slight nod and small smile before continuing back to her friends.
“Of course not. Kyler and I have an open relationship right now…Kind of like Lilah’s parents.”
Up to that point, Lilah had been able to take hearing Sarah’s words bouncing through the room, but now she just felt sick.
“I don’t feel the need to put Kyler on a tight leash at the moment. If he wants a little toy here and there, he can have it. He’ll get bored eventually. At first, I didn’t think Lilah would be into a guy like that, but after knowing what she has for a mother, I guess it runs in the family,” Sarah laughed loudly.
Lilah felt tears sting the corners of her eyes, begging to get out. She assumed Kyler and Sarah were…something. She just couldn’t believe that she had started to l
ike him, to fall for him, to think that he’d pick someone like her over someone like Sarah, someone obviously perfect for the star quarterback. The worst of it all was being compared to her mother. Most girls would have loved to hear that, but lately she wanted to be as far from being like either of her parents. Being branded as a toy, a little plaything for some stupid jock, tore at her insides. That was not at all who or what she was.
She waited until the harsh words finally stopped and she heard several sets of footsteps leave, the squeaky door slamming shut and silencing them for now. After taking a few long blinks with deep breaths, Lilah was able to shut down any waterworks from breaking through to the surface.
She made her way from the stall to the sinks, only to realize she wasn’t alone. Thankfully it was just some junior; however, upon taking a longer glance at the girl from her reflection in the mirror, she realized that the loose sweatshirt and ripped jeans only did a marvelous job at concealing what was underneath. A cheerleader.
Lilah ignored the girl and went about washing her hands. She scrubbed and scrubbed until there was nothing but a pile of foam forming a mountain in the sink that clearly had drainage issues. From the corner of her eye, she could see the girl, still there, now tinkering with making a side braid with hair that should have been cut years ago.
Not bothering to look in Lilah’s direction, Emory finally sighed, attempting to find the right words. “You should ignore her. Her life’s mission is to make everyone else miserable, and let me tell you, she can be a calculating and manipulative little demon.”
Lilah stopped scrubbing, completely stunned by what she had just heard, and the person she had heard it from. “Aren’t you one of them?” Lilah asked. She felt chills as soon as the words came out, realizing how rude she came across.
Emory huffed and turned from the mirror, now leaning against the sink with crossed arms, eyeing Lilah. “Just because I’m a cheerleader does not mean I’m anything like her. Do you always have to be such a snob?”
Lilah looked over. Had she never seen the girl in a uniform before, she never would have taken her for a cheerleader. She had this unique combination of girly and tomboy that appeared very confusing.
“Look, I get you have this stone-cold iciness about you, but that doesn’t mean that what she said didn’t hurt,” Emory started over. “What I’m telling you is, she probably knew you were in here and just wanted to mess with you. Don’t let her get in your head.”
Lilah looked in the mirror and immediately had to look away. She didn’t want to see the reflection of herself. “You’re wrong. Everything she said was totally right. I’ve just never heard it aloud before.” Lilah’s words were quieter, barely audible over the running water.
“Yeah, well I know every guy on that team,” she began confidently. Sadly, having a brother on the team and an uncle as the coach also meant that unlike Lilah, not a single guy in uniform wanted anything to do with her aside from playing catch. “What Sarah said about Kyler isn’t true either.” She laughed. “He barely dates and seems to have a lot on his plate.” Even Lilah could attest to that last part. “I can’t imagine that he would feel the need to add juggling girls to his list. Then again, what do I know? I’m just a ditzy cheerleader,” Emory shrugged.
Great. This girl was being nice and comforting and somehow Lilah had managed to insult her. Lilah grabbed a paper towel. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for it to come out like that.”
“Yes, you did. I get it. High school stereotypes and all,” Emory said as though she had not a care in the world. “Anyway, I have to get back to class,” Emory concluded, pushing off the sink and making her exit.
Then there was silence. Lilah was all alone, the only company being that of her reflection in the grimy mirror.
✽ ✽ ✽
While Sarah knew that her actions might be considered a bit brutal, she wasn’t letting go when it came to Kyler. She couldn’t remember any of Kyler’s girlfriends, or even him dating. It would be a cold day before she’d allow for Lilah to take that title over her.
Hopefully her words had hurt Lilah enough and caused her to think of her own actions and how she portrayed herself. The little Sarah knew of Lilah, she was certain that her goody girl reputation meant everything to her.
Now she had to move on to the next phase of her brilliant plan. She needed Lilah to focus her attention on someone else, and she knew the perfect person for the job. She liked to think that she was very observant of her social surroundings.
✽ ✽ ✽
“Sorry I couldn’t meet right after school today,” Kyler began as soon as he sat his bag down at the table of the public library.
Lilah didn’t bother looking up. “It’s fine. Do you have to work today?”
Something about her words, in just those few, felt off to him. He bordered on trying to start a personal conversation with her, asking if everything was okay. It had been over a week since she opened up to him about her parents. Instead, “Yeah. So, I’ve only got an hour.”
“That’s great. For starters, how did you do on the test last week?” Lilah only now looked up.
He really didn’t want to lie to her, but he told himself it was the only thing he had lied about. It wasn’t even that bad in the big picture. He rubbed the back of his neck and averted her attention.
“Kyler,” Lilah pressed. She leaned forward onto the table and crossed her arms, staring at him, waiting.
“I barely passed,” he finally admitted. When he looked up, he could see the disappointment and irritation in Lilah’s face. He hated that.
Lilah sank back in her chair. “I don’t get it! I thought you had it. You should have had an A, a high B at the very least. Did you use your study guide we worked on?”
He shrugged. “Yeah.”
Despite what she had learned from Sarah, she still felt bad for him. She knew he had a lot going on, especially with trying to work after school several days a week. “It’s alright. You still passed. As long as you don’t get behind on assignments, you’ll be fine. Maybe we can make some extra time in the coming days.”
They dove right in to wrapping up the last bits of Pride and Prejudice. Mr. Hughes had already hinted at an essay and his weren’t the easiest. While he allowed a good timeframe in terms of completion, he also scrutinized every source and citation. Lilah was sure that the due date would fall after Kyler’s football season and wondered if he’d ask her for any help by then.
“I don’t know how to bring this up,” Kyler began as they walked down the steps of the library to the black car waiting in the towing zone. “But how are things?”
Lilah’s steps faltered and she stopped. Kyler was two steps ahead of her and when he turned, they were almost the same height.
“What do you mean?”
“Uh. With your parents and all?” He didn’t know if it was a subject that he was allowed to bring up.
Lilah sighed and shifted uncomfortably. She couldn’t believe that this was the one person she chose to spill everything to. Why was that again? What mystical power had he had that night? “Fine,” was all she said at first, but when he didn’t move, she had to assume that wouldn’t be enough to satisfy him.
Above all, she shouldn’t have looked in his eyes. The sincerity and care pouring from his brilliant blue irises was more than she could deal with.
“We’ve just been avoiding it.”
“Avoiding it,” he repeated, turning it into a question.
“Yeah. My parents keep busy and since that news broke, we see less and less of each other.” Why did she keep talking? Fine was sufficient. She should have left it at that.
“Well, if you ever need–”
“Antonio is waiting for me,” Lilah pointed out, interrupting whatever garbage Kyler was about to feed her.
She knew without a doubt that she was being immature. She could have just asked him directly about Sarah. After all, at times it felt like they were friends. Were they? She could have asked him that too. The fo
olish part of her felt relief at not knowing. If he confirmed the worst, that he was indeed in some bizarre attachment with that horrible person, she didn’t know how she’d feel. She didn’t even bother thinking of the slim chance that he wasn’t.
Chapter 29
Thankfully the honor society meeting was a shortened one. It’s not like Lilah had anywhere to be, but staying after school for those meetings seemed redundant after three years.
The entire time she sat there, she squirmed thinking about her next set of volunteer hours. The hospital gift shop had been easy, and if she did that again, there was a chance she’d see Kyler. No. She shook that thought away. Her time with Kyler was coming to an end and it was for the best.
Instead she thought of a different assignment to sign up for if still available. Sadly, it too reminded her of Kyler.
Her hands finally quit shaking and the excitement began once she signed her name.
“The animal shelter,” a deep voice said interrupting her inner thoughts.
Lilah turned to the recognizable voice. “Yes,” she confirmed with a nervous excitement.
Simon’s face didn’t echo the same feelings. “I’m not an animal person,” he said with a shrug. “There’s so much hair and shedding.”
His comment reminded her of her mother. That was precisely why they had never had a dog.
“I’ve never had a dog before, but one of my friends does, and he’s just the sweetest thing ever,” Lilah responded. She stepped aside so that Simon could sign up for the hospital again.
“The dog or the friend?”
Lilah could feel a tumble in her stomach. Both. “The dog,” she laughed.
They both gathered their bags and began making their way from the room. Lilah knew Antonio would be waiting on her. Kyler had text her earlier that he needed to go into work early. While she was aware that he wanted to help his mom and sister, she hated that his grades were suffering because of it; however, as a result, once the honor society meeting ended, she was able to go home and have time to herself.
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